A portable computer includes a keyboard unit that is formed with two latch retaining notches, and a lid that is mounted pivotally on the keyboard unit for covering the keyboard unit. Two spring-biased latch members are disposed movably on the lid, and engage the retaining notches, respectively. Whether an unlatching member is moved on the lid in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the latch members move on the lid in the first direction so as to disengage the latch members from the retaining notches, thus permitting movement of the lid for uncovering the keyboard unit. As such, the unlatching member can be operated easily by left-handed or right-handed people in order to open the lid.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A portable computer including: a keyboard unit formed with two latch retaining notches; a lid mounted pivotally on said keyboard unit for covering said keyboard unit; two spring-biased latch members disposed movably on said lid to engage said retaining notches, respectively; and an unlatching member disposed movably on said lid and capable of being moved on said lid so as to disengage said latch members from said retaining notches, thereby permitting movement of said lid for uncovering said keyboard unit; wherein the improvement comprises said unlatching member being connected to said latch members so that, when said unlatching member moves on said lid in either of a first direction and a second direction that is opposite to said first direction, said latch members move on said lid in said first direction, thereby disengaging said latch members from said retaining notches, wherein said unlatching member has a first driving portion and a second driving portion, said computer further including: a driven plate disposed movably on said lid and guided to move in either of said first and second directions, said latch members being mounted fixedly on said driven plate, said driven plate having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion; and a driving member mounted rotatably on said lid and disposed between said second driving portion of said unlatching member and said second engagement portion of said driven plate, movement of said unlatching members on said lid in said first direction causing said first driving portion of said unlatching member to engage and move said first engagement portion of said driven plate on said lid in said first direction, movement of said unlatching member on said lid in said second direction causing said second driving portion of said unlatching member to engage and rotate said driving member so that said driving member engages and moves said second engagement portion of said driven plate on said lid in said first direction.
2. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said driven plate has a left projection which constitutes said first engagement portion, and a right projection which define a slide slot between said left and right projections and which is formed with a tongue that constitutes said second engagement portion, said unlatching member having an actuator that is exposed outwardly from said lid and that is adapted to be pushed by a user, said first driving portion extending from said actuator in a direction that is perpendicular to said first and second directions, and being received slidably within said slide slot in said driven plate, said second driving portion extending from said actuator in said second direction, said driving member including a push plate formed with a middle hole that divides said push plate into a first plate portion and a second plate portion, and a pivot pin that extends through said middle hole in said push plate so as to mount said push plate rotatably on said lid, the movement of said unlatching member on said lid in said second direction causing said second driving portion of said unlatching member to engage and rotate said first plate portion of said push plate so that said second plate portion of said push plate engages and moves said tongue of said driven plate in said first direction.
3. The portable computer as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said lid includes a positioning spring which biases said unlatching member to a predetermined position on said lid.
4. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said driven plate has a left projection which constitutes said first engagement portion, and a right projection which define a slide slot between said left and right projections and which is formed with a first racked portion that constitutes said second engagement portion, said unlatching member having an actuator that is exposed outwardly from said lid and that is adapted to be pushed by a user, said first driving portion extending from said actuator in a direction that is perpendicular to said first and second directions, and being received slidably within said slide slot in said driven plate, said second driving portion extending from said actuator in said second direction and being formed with a second racked portion, said driving member including a pinion which is disposed rotatably on said lid and which engages said first racked portion of said driven plate, said pinion being spaced apart from said second racked portion of said unlatching member, the movement of said unlatching member on said lid in said second direction causing said second racked portion of said unlatching member to engage and rotate said pinion so that said pinion moves said first racked portion of said driven plate in said first direction.
5. The portable computer as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said lid includes a positioning spring which biases said unlatching member to a predetermined position on said lid.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 10, 2000
March 18, 2003
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